Alabama Rot

Posted on February 25, 2014

Idiopathic cutaneous in Surrey

As you may have heard there has been another case of Alabama Rot in Surrey. The owner of the flat coated retriever whom was struck with the disease, is an acquaintance of Lucy, the practice manager. The dog had been walked in the Shere/Hurtwood/Albury area. Sadly, despite immediate and specialist care, he has lost his battle against this rare, but cruel disease. May he rest in peace.

Idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, otherwise known as CRGV or “Alabama rot” is a disease that has been known about since the late 1980’s. It was initially thought to only affect Greyhounds and the dogs reported with the disease in the USA presented with kidney failure and/or skin lesions. The cause of the disease remains unknown.

Since December 2012, sixteen suspected cases have been seen in the United Kingdom. Some of these were from the New Forest. However, cases have also been identified in Dorset, Surrey, Cornwall, Worcestershire and County Durham. Only two cases have been seen since December 2013.

The skin lesions are a symptom of the disease rather than being traumatic wounds from an injury. Typically the skin lesions have been below the knee or elbow. They may present as a focal swelling, a patch of red skin or a defect in the skin (like an ulcer). Over the subsequent two to seven days the affected dogs have developed clinical signs of kidney failure which can include vomiting, reduced appetite and tiredness.

It is important to remember that only a very small number of dogs have been affected. Most skin lesions will not be caused by this disease and most cases of kidney failure will have another cause. If your dog is affected, early recognition of the disease and aggressive management is likely to lead to the best outcome. Without knowing the trigger for the disease it is impossible to give specific advice about walking your dog and it is again important to stress that the case numbers are very low. The disease does not appear to pass from dog to dog.

If you are concerned about your dog please call us at the Surgery on 01483 536036.